Tire-lock cable



Dec. 22, 1925. 1,566,965 c. L. JOHNSON TIRE LOCK CABLE Filed June 27, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 1 MUM? 176W?.

Deco 22,

C. L. JOHNSON TIRE LOCK CABLE Filed June 27, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LFMEFLCIR Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COL'VIN L. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHNSON AUTOMOBILE LOCK CO., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TIRE-LOCK CABLE.

Application led June 27, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CoLvIN L. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Tire- Lock Cable; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a tire lock having an improved type of a flexible armored cable equipped with improved end members adapted to prevent access'to a stranded steel cable which is enclosed by an armored covering. p

1t is an object of this invention to provide an improved armored cable for use with automobile tire locks.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a tire lock having a flexible cable provided with improved end members for holding ball and socket armor members closely associated with one :another to enclose the cable to make the same inaccessible. It is a further object of the invention to provide a tire lock having a stranded steel cable enclosed by an armored covering, one of the end members of which is rotatably engaged on one end ofthe cable to prevent twisting of said cable to break the same.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved tire lock wherein a flexible cable is covered with a flexible armored covering held in place at one end by a i wedged end member and at the other end by means of a rotatable end member.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an automobile showing a spare tire locked in place by means of an improved tire lock., embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure] 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken en line 22e-2 Figure 1,

Serial No. 480,89.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the lock block taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail section taken on line 4-*4 of Figure 3 showing parts in elevation.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal detail section through one of the end members of the armored cable.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal detail section through the other end member of the armored cable.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates an automobile having rigidly supported on the rear thereof a spare tire support o1' carrier rim 2 for removably receiving and holding a spare tire 3 in position. The spare tire rim 4 is adapted to slide on the supporting rim 2. For the purpose of retaining the spare tire in place an improved tire lock is used as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The tire lock comprises a metal block 5 provided with cable openings 6 and 7, and with a lock chamber or recess 8. Securely mounted in the chamber 8 is a cylinder lock 9 provided with a rotating barrel or cylinder 10 having a key slot 11 for the purpose of receiving a key for rotating said barrel. Engaged on the inner end of the barrel 10 is a cam or crank plate 12 carrying a pin 13. The pin 13 is engaged in a transverse slot or groove 14 provided in a locking bolt or latch 15 slidably disposed within the block chamber 8 with the inner tapered end thereof projecting into the cable opening 6 as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Normally the latch 15 is held retracted by turning the lock barrel 10 by means of a key.

The block openings 6 and 7 are provided for receiving the improved armored cable shown in detail in Figures 4, 6 and 7. The armored cable comprises a round stranded steel cable 16 having one end thereof rigidl),l clamped in a split conical or tapered wedge plug 17. The split wedge plug 17 is driven into a tapered recess or passage provided in a cable terminal attaching head 18. The end of the cable 16 and the wedge plug 1T are covered by means of a finishing plug 19 which is also forced into the terminal head 18 and brazed or soldered in place flush with -ure 2.

the outer end of the terminal head 18 as shown in Figure 6. The terminal hea-d 18 is piovided lwith an vintegral :flange 20 .which is adapted to seat `in groove 21 formed by einlarging the upper end of the block opening .7 to prevent the terminal head 18 from being drawn through the block opening 7.

rThe inner end of the terminal head 18 is provided with a circular or roundedsocket or recess 22.

Arranged adjacent one another in intertring adjustable relation on the cable 16 ,are a :plurality of vlball Aand socket armor links or knuckles which Aform an armored casing for protecting the cable 16. Each armoredL link comprises a .cylindrical sock- .et head 23 fone end of which is provided l armored covering or'casing for the-stranded -steelcable 16. Ashoulder -27 -is formed on each cable link whereithe b all26 joins the :head 23. l

Rigidly brazed .or :soldered on the'second .endiofthe stranded cable '16 is a cylindrical yhead or bearing cylinder 28. Rotatably engaged on the bearing Yhead 28 is a passaged cylindrical :terminal head y29 having a passaged ball V30 integrally formed on -one end thereof. A plug 31 is rigidly secured in .the fend of the terminal head 29 and is brazed .or soldered in place to prevent access to the cable head 2 8. The ball 3 Oseats in the rounded socket 2 4 of the link adja- -cent the terminal head 29- 30- vCable 16 thereby preventing access thereto by unauthorized persons who may desire to break or y cut fthe cable.

The operation is as follows:

The spare -tire 3 and its .rim 4 are placed upon ythe -automobile carrier rim 2. To lock the .tire 3 -in place .upon the carrier rim 2 vthe armored cable is engaged by the tire 3 and :the carrier lrim 2 as illustrated .in F ig- T'he i'reeeiid of the armored cable is inserted through the block opening 6 and is pulled .throughthe block .until the flexible armored .cable rmly grips around .the tire to hold the same in position on the mounting rim i2. v

lVlieii :the .cable is pulled through the block 5 the latch 15 is in retracted position thereby permitting the armored cable to slide through the opening .6. When the armored .cable has been properly engaged around the tire 3 inserted -in the key slot 11 of the lock barrel 10. By turning the key the barrel is rotated thereby causing the lockpin 13 to slide vin the latch groove 14. The latch is thus `forced to project into the'block passage .6 finto locking engagement behind the shoulder 27 of one of the armor links 23-26 as shown in Figure 4. Vith the latch in projected latching position the armored ycable is locked against being withdrawn lthrough the yblock 5. The tire is thus securely locked on the rim 2.

It has been found through experience, that 1in -tire locks of the type herein disclosed attempts have been made .to twist the enclosed cable .until ythe same breaks. This breaking ott-he cable was accomplished by Atightly gripping the end terminal member rigidly secured to the cable at the free -end of the armored -cable vand :turning the saine 4to cause twisting .of the cable enclosed -by the armored casing. To obviate twisting of 1t-he steel cable -16 in the present invention, 'the improved .terminal head 29 Was provided to rotate on the cable head I28 thereby -making it impossible -to twist the cable16 with the intention yof breaking the same.

As will be vevident from an examination of thefdrawi-ngs thestranded steel cable 16 is lcompletely .enclosed by the armor covering .and is absolutely yprotected against being ycut or other-wise interfered with.

'llo release the .tire lock the key is again inserted yinto the key slot 11 of the lock 9. By now rotating the lock barrel -1O in a reverse direction the pin 13 acts to retract the latch 15 out of engagement with the armored covering of the cable 16. Then the :latch ,is released thearmored cable can :be drawn through the block opening 6 to permit removal of .the tire lock from the -tiie 3 and the carrier rim 2. The tire 3 and its rim 4 maynow be removed from the Ycarrier rim 2 it desired.

I am aware thatnumerousdetails of construction may be varied through a vwide range without-departing from 'the principles of this invention, and .I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the .prior art.

I clai-in as -my invention.:

An armored tire lock device comprising a cable, a head on one endthereof, a passaged Aterminal member rotatably Vengaged von ksaid cable and head, a plug rigidly secured in one end of Asaid terminal member to enclose said head, a plurality of interiitting ,ball and socket links engaged on said cable, a ball member integral with said terand the rim 2 a key is minal member and engaging into one of said links, a second passaged terminal member engaged on the other end of the cable and engaged by the end link at that end of the cable, a split Wedge engaged on said Cable and driven into said second terminal memloer to tension said `oalole for holding the links in nterlitting operating relation, and a plug secured into the end of said second terminal member to enclose the end of the 10 cable.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

COLVIN L. JOHNSON. 

